British Try to Prevent Continental Congress From Meeting and
Declare America in Rebellion

The highlight of this May 1775 issue of Gentleman's Magazine
is an amazingly quick account of the April 19, 1775 battle between British
troops and American militia at Lexington and Concord, about 15 miles from
Boston, Massachusetts. The trade-off with the news reaching across the Atlantic
so quickly is that the report is inaccurate and overstates the number of troops
killed on both sides. There is much more in this issue concerning the conflict
between the British and Americans, including the full text of a letter to royal
governors in America instructing them to prevent assemblies from choosing
delegates to the Second Continental Congress, with a report on its ineffectual
result. The issue also includes an extensive account of the debate in Parliament
on a response to King George III's address in which he declared the American
colonies "in rebellion" and pledged his wealth and honor to the suppression of
the rebellion. Pictured below are some excerpts from his historic issue.

Below is some of the preliminary report of the battles of
Lexington and Concord.

Below is the directive from the British Secretary of State for
colonial affairs to American Governor and its impact.

In the excerpt below from the Parliamentary debate on the King's
address the great orator, thinker and writer Edmund Burke responds to the King's
declaration that the American colonies are in rebelliion. He makes reference to
the Boston Tea Party which provoked the severe sanctions of the Boston Port
Closure bill and the sending of troops to enforce it that led to the battles of
Lexington and Concord.

Below is an copper engraved plate included in this issue. The
most intriguing part of the engraving is the picture of a mermaid, which were
still believed to exist in 1775. The text that follows includes a description of
the mermaid and the location in which it was caught.

Below is the title page of this issue.

Complete issue, disbound, in great condition with both engraved
plates as called for. This historic issue records the start of hostilities between
Americans and the British that led to further battles, agitation, Revolution and
the Declaration of Independence.